Appeals Timetable 2017

May 19 – Deadline for returning Notice of Appeal Forms to Peterborough Diocese

June 12 – June 23 - Appeal hearings.

Admissions

Peterborough Diocese Education Trust

St Barnabas Church of England School

Admission Policy 2017

St Barnabas Church of England School is an Academy within the Peterborough Diocese Education Trust. The Academy Trust is the admission authority and has responsibility for setting the Admission Policy. The policy is administered by the Local Governing Body.

The Governing Body will admit up to 60 pupils into each year group.

The governors will admit all pupils with a statement of special educational needs or education health care plan which names the school.

When there are more applications than there are places available, the governors will admit pupils according to the following criteria which are listed in order of priority:

Oversubscription criteria:

The Governors will admit 'looked after children' or a children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order. A looked after child is a child who is (a) in the care of a local authority, or (b) being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions (see the definition in section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989).

The Governors will admit children on social or medical grounds, where professionals have clearly identified that the school will best meet the needs of the child. (These applications must be accompanied by documentary evidence from appropriate professionals within the Health or Social Services)

The Governors will admit children with an older brother or sister continuing at the school or the linked Junior School (Freeman’s C.E. Junior) at the time of admission of the younger child.

The Governors will admit children of parents/guardians who live closer to the school than any other school and who can demonstrate that they are worshipping members of a Church that is a member of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. (Applications should be accompanied by a reference form SIF/A available from the school. The completed SIF/A form will be sent to the minister and he/she will be asked to complete a SIF/B form confirming the statements on SIF/A)

The Governors will admit children of parents/guardians who live closer to the school than any other school.

The Governors will admit other children of parents/guardians who can demonstrate that they are worshipping members of a Church that is a member of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. (Applications should be accompanied by a reference form SIF/A available from the school. The completed SIF/A form will be sent to the minister and he/she will be asked to complete a SIF/B form confirming the statements on SIF/A)

The Governors will admit other children.

Tie Breaker

If the admission number is exceeded within criterion 3, priority will be given to those who live furthest from the nearest alternative school. Within any other criterion, applications will be prioritised on the distance from the child’s home to school. Distances are provided by the Local Authority and are measured on a straight-line basis using a geographical information system.

Waiting Lists

If the school has more applications than places available parents may elect to place their child’s name on a waiting list. Pupils will be placed on the waiting list in strict order according to the oversubscription criteria on the Admission Policy. If a place becomes available at the school, places will be allocated according to these oversubscription criteria. The Waiting List will be revised in September at the start of the new school year and at the time of allocation of any available places. Parents wishing their child to remain on the waiting list should contact the school within 10 school days at the beginning of September. Any places that become available mid term will be allocated as soon as possible.

‘Late’ applications

Hopefully this will be a rare occurrence. Each application is processed as speedily as it can be after receipt. The governing body will deal with late applications after all the ‘on time’ applications have been processed. Those refused a place, due to the school having reached the planned admissions number, will be advised of their right of appeal.

Right of appeal

The Governors will admit up to the published admission number (PAN). For any child subsequently refused a place, parents/legal guardians will have the right to appeal against the decision, to an Independent Appeals Panel. Parents wishing to appeal should contact the Appeals Administrator to request an Admission Appeals pack.

E-mail: education@peterborough-diocese.org.uk Tel: 01604-887006

Definition of terms used

Home address

The home address of a pupil is considered to be the permanent residence of the child in a residential property when the place is offered. The address must be the child’s only or main residence and is either:

Owned by the child’s parent, parents or guardian;

Leased to or rented by the child’s parent, parents or guardian under lease or written rental agreement of not less than six months’ duration.

Documentary evidence of ownership or rental agreement may be required together with proof of actual permanent residence at the property concerned. Places cannot be allocated on the basis of intended future changes of address unless house moves have been confirmed through the exchange of contracts or the signing of a formal lease agreement. The school reserves the right to seek further documentary evidence to support your claim to residence.

Parents and Guardians must notify the school of any change of address during the admissions procedure. Please note that the school is unable to allocate a place to anyone moving into the country from abroad or within the U.K. prior to their arrival in the country. The school would then require proof of residency as stated above. The only exceptions are children of UK service personnel and other Crown Servants (including Diplomats).

Sibling

Pupils who will have a brother or sister continuing on the school roll at the date of starting at the school. The definition of a brother or sister (sometimes referred to as a “sibling”) is:

A brother of sister sharing the same parents

A half-brother or half-sister, where two children share one common parent

A step-brother or step-sister, where two children are related by a parent’s marriage or partnership. The partners must have co-habited in a permanent exclusive relationship (as if they were husband and wife or civil partners) for a minimum of 2 years

Adopted children.

A brother or sister must be living at the SAME address when the application is made.

Worshipping Member

Our guidance to priests / worship leaders on this term is as follows: At least one of the parents or guardians of the child is regarded by the priest / minister / worship leader as part of the worshipping community at the church / worship centre.

This would not necessarily mean that the parent is a “Member” in a technical sense (e.g. through baptism, confirmation or electoral roll) but would imply a pattern of attendance at worship (on Sunday or at other times) that is more than “occasional” and has been sustained for more than a short, very recent period of time.

Joint Custody Arrangements;

Where a child lives between two parents the qualifying address will be where the child sleeps the majority of the school week.

If the child spends equal amounts of time at the two addresses parents must nominate which address they wish to be the child’s main address.

Documentary proof may be sought, such as a medical card. If a child is resident with any other relative it must be clearly stated on the preference form.

It should be noted that an address used for childcare arrangements cannot be used as a home address for the purpose of applying for a school place.

A fraudulent claim to an address may lead to the withdrawal of the offer of a place.

Please note: Details of arrangements for requesting deferred admission of “summer-born” children can be obtained from Northamptonshire County Council.